In a Law360 Op-Ed, Channing Robinson-Holmes Explains How Supreme Court's Perttu v. Richards Ruling Strengthens Access to Justice

In a newly published op-ed in Law360, Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers partner Channing Robinson-Holmes analyzes the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2025 decision in Perttu v. Richards, calling it "a monumental victory for access to justice, especially for incarcerated individuals seeking redress for constitutional violations." 

Channing breaks down how the 5-4 ruling addresses a critical question under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA): who decides disputed factual issues regarding exhaustion of administrative remedies? The Court affirmed that when these disputes are intertwined with the merits of a claim, juries—not judges—must resolve them, protecting the fundamental right to trial by jury. 

In her analysis, Channing explains how the PLRA, enacted in 1996 to curtail frivolous prisoner lawsuits, has in practice created substantial barriers that make it nearly impossible for incarcerated individuals to navigate grievance procedures effectively. She argues that the Perttu decision marks "a critical shift in the legal landscape for prisoners" and strengthens their ability to hold institutions accountable. 

Channing also explores the broader implications of this ruling beyond prison walls, noting that it provides important lessons for all civil litigation where procedural requirements risk predetermining outcomes and denying constitutional protections. 

Read the full piece here: https://www.law360.com/articles/2386734